Manga and its celluloid cousin anime have left comic shops are mainstream in the West.

Skye Wishart cracks the formula on how to entertain kids on a Japan trip.

Overcrowded Tokyo metro offers passengers free noodles in bid to stagger morning commute.

His retirement from the sport leaves just two wrestlers at the elite level.

Asian countries dominated the top spots, while New Zealand fell in the rankings.

From today, you'll now be paying even more before leaving Japan.

Japanese-language newspaper in Brazil prints its final edition.

Behind the celebrations hides a worrying tale of overfishing and dwindling stocks.

Monk who was given the ticket has refuses to pay the penalty.

Japan will inform the IWC of its decision by the end of the year.

Defence guidelines include plans for its first aircraft carrier and increases in spending.

William Smith served on the midget submarine that sank a Japanese cruiser.

Interest groups applaud chance to advance language learning from start of schooling.

Iris Riddell visits the Fukushima Power Plant, destroyed by tsunami in 2011

COMMENT: The years cycle was left unlocked shows we're honest folk.

To swap life in the congested capital for a home in the countryside.

Zespri looks to grow kiwifruit in North America as Sungold sales boom.

A rookie actor is set to play Jonah Lomu in a mini-series on the rugby star.

There are an estimated 10 million empty homes in Japan amid a shrinking population.

South Korea's decision has fuel on the diplomatic fire with Japan.

Eli Orzessek finds the answers to your travel questions.

The determined cats have been attempting entry for years, keeping a security guard busy.

Neil Porten checks into Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo — Shiodome.

Only 13 per cent of PNG has access to electricity but that will change.

The PM receives warning and compliment in final bilaterals at the East Asia Summit.

Japan's latest whaling expedition into the Southern Ocean has again drawn heavy criticism.

Japan's retail market is potentially an exciting market for automated checkouts.

$24,000 trip included an All Blacks game and meetings with business and political leaders

'There is a possibility that the islet has disappeared.'

COMMENT: Trevor Mallard and Gerry Brownlee indulge in some rugby diplomacy.